NORFOLK, Neb. -- Lutheran High Northeast senior Justus Searight signed his letter of intent Monday afternoon to attend the Nucor Technical Academy in Tuscaloosa, Alabama following his graduation this spring.

The Nucor Technical Academy is giving future professionals the opportunity to get paid while learning on the job skills for a potential career with one of northeast Nebraska’s largest employers.

Searight said Monday begins his journey toward working full-time with Nucor as an electrician.

“I plan to go to Tuscaloosa to go continue my education for Nucor,” he said. “I can learn on Nucor’s machines and get very specific training in that area.”

Searight said that once he completes his time at the academy, he hopes to be working back at the mill in his hometown of Norfolk.

Nucor Technical Academy supervisor Lane Tyner said Justus is one of many soon to be attendees that helps represent the future of his company.

“Justus represents the future of Nucor,” he said. “We’re going to invest quite a bit of time and money in to help him achieve his goals and help them him be successful in a career.”

Aaron French, the maintenance and engineering manager at Nucor in Nebraska, said that academy graduates that earn full time positions at Nucor come prepared with a full set of skills learned during their time in the program.

“They come out with a much higher skillset,” he said. “Their foundation is much stronger.”

Students like Searight entering the program can graduate with an Associates of Applied Science after two years.